Luke 15:3-6 – “And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.”

2. Rejoicing when a lost coin is found

Luke 15:8-9 – “Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.”

3. Rejoicing when a lost son is returned repentant

Luke 15:22-24 – “But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”

4. Rejoicing by God the Father when a sinner repents

Luke 15:7 – “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”

Luke 15:10 – “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”

I. The Other Brother Did NOT Agree with the Father.

Luke 15:24-28a – “Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry . . . .”

II. The Other Brother Became Angry with the Father.

Luke 15:28-30 – “And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: but as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.”

III. The Other Brother Broke Fellowship with the Father.

Luke 15:28 – “And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.”

IV. The Other Brother Cared Only about Himself.

Luke 15:29-30 – “And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: but as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.”

V. The Other Brother Continued in Bitterness against the Father.

Luke 15:31-32 – “And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.”

Note: The parable ends without any indication of repentance on the part of “the other brother.” In fact, both brothers departed from fellowship with their father. The younger son broke fellowship through a sinful lifestyle, whereas the older son broke fellowship through a sinful attitude. Furthermore, the older son engaged in a broken fellowship while never leaving the father’s house, and while having continued in outward, “religious” service and obedience to the father.

Luke 15:11-12 – “And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.”

2. To pursue the way of the world

Luke 15:13 – “And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.”

3. To pursue the way of sin

Luke 15:13 – “And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.”

B. Reaping What Is Sown

Hebrews 11:25 – “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.”

Galatians 6:7-8 – “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

James 1:15 – “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

1. No pleasure

Luke 15:14 – “And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.”

2. No provision

Luke 15:15-16 – “And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.”

3. No help

Luke 15:15-16 – “And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.”

I. He Came to Himself – Realizing that it was better to be WITH the father.

Luke 15:17 – “And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!”

II. He Recognized His Sin.

A. I have sinned.

Luke 15:18 – “I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee.”

B. I am not worthy.

Luke 15:19 – “And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.”

C. I will serve.

Luke 15:19 – “And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.”

III. He Returned to the Father. – Draw night to God with a broken heart, and He will draw night to you.

Luke 15;20 – “And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”

James 4:8-9 – “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.”

IV. He Confessed His Sin.

A. No excusing himself

Luke 15:21 – “And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.”

B. No trivializing his sin

Luke 15:21 – “And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.”

C. No shifting of blame

​V. He Was Restored by the Father.

A. Restored to peace

Luke 15:22 – “But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.”

B. Restored to blessing

Luke 15:23 – “And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry.”

C. Restored to fellowship

Luke 15:24 – “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”

C. They disobeyed God’s will.
Hosea 4:10c – “. . . Because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.”

3. The Circumstance
Hosea 4:7a – “As they were increased, so they sinned against me.”
Hosea 4:11 – “Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.”

4. The Choice

A. Of Pursuit
Hosea 4:8a – “They eat up the sin of my people.”

B. Of Priority
Hosea 4:8b – “And they set their heart on their iniquity.”

5. The Counsel
Hosea 4:12a – “My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them.”

6. The Corruption

A. In Desire
Hosea 4:12b – “For the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err.”

B. In Direction
Hosea 4:12c – “And they have gone a whoring from under their God.”

C. In Discernment
Hosea 4:13a – “They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under
oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good.”

7. The Consequence

A. Loss of Fellowship
Hosea 4:6b – “Because thou has rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest
to me.”

B. Destruction of Family
Hosea 4:6c – “Seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.”
Hosea 4:13b – “Therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit
adultery. I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they
commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the
people that doth not understand shall fall.”

C. Emptiness of Fortunes
Hosea 4:7b – “Therefore will I change their glory into shame.”
Hosea 4:9-10 – “And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and
reward them their doings. For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and
shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.”

Zephaniah 1:5 – “And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops . . .”
(Remember that a pursuit after covetousness or self-interest is also false worship – See Matthew 6:24;
Colossians 3:5; Philippians 3:18-19; 1 John 2:5-6)

b. Because we have mixed the worship of the Lord with falsehood.

Zephaniah 1:5 – “. . . And them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham.”

c. Because we have turned back from the fellowship and service of the Lord.

Zephaniah 1:6 – “And them that are turned back from the LORD . . . .”

d. Because we have not sought after the Lord or enquired for Him.

Zephaniah 1:6 – “. . . And those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.”

e. Because we have disregarded any accountability before the Lord.

Zephaniah 1:12 – “And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish
the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do
evil.”

4. When must we gather together before the Lord? BEFORE His fierce anger come upon us.

Zephaniah 2:2 – “Beforethe decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD’S anger come upon you.”

5. What are we to do when we gather together before the Lord? We must seek for His gracious forgiveness and fellowship.

Zephaniah 2:3 – “Seekye the LORD.”

a. We must come to a position of meekness before the Lord.

Zephaniah 2:3 – “. . . All ye meek of the earth . . . .”

b. We must repent with broken-hearted conviction at the Lord’s judgment.

Zephaniah 2:3 – “. . . Which have wrought his judgment . . . .”

c. We must pursue a pathway of righteousness and meekness.

Zephaniah 2:3 – “. . . Seek righteousness, seek meekness . . . .”

6. What hope do we have if we so gather before the Lord? We may find hope in His mercy and grace.

Zephaniah 2:3 – “. . . It may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.”

In Psalm 119:6 the psalmist proclaimed, “Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.” In verse 31 the psalmist lifted up his prayer, “I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame.” In verse 46 the psalmist expressed his commitment, “I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.” Again in verse 80 the psalmist lifted up his prayer, “Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.” Yet again in verse 116 the psalmist lifted up his prayer, “Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.”

In all five of these verses, the psalmist employed either the verb “ashamed” or its corresponding noun “shame.” Furthermore, in all five of these verses the psalmist spoke about not being ashamed or not having shame. What then does it mean to be “ashamed”? It means to have a feeling of humiliation or embarrassment because of some wrong or foolish decision. So then, what was involved in the psalmist’s desire not to be ashamed?
here to edit.

In Psalm 119:6 the psalmist gave the testimony, “Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.” Furthermore, in verse 15 the psalmist expressed the commitment, “I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.” Finally, in verse 117 the psalmist expressed the commitment, “Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.”

In all three of these verses, we find the psalmist employing the verb “have respect” in relation to the Word and ways of the Lord. Concerning the Word of the Lord, the psalmist declared in the closing portion of Psalm 119:6, “When I have respect unto all thy commandments [that is – unto all the commandments of the Lord’s Word].” Concerning the ways of the Lord, the psalmist declared in the closing portion of verse 15, “And have respect unto thy ways.” Then again concerning the Word of the Lord, the psalmist declared in the closing portion of verse 117, “And I will have respect unto thy statutes [that is – unto the statutes of the Lord’s Word] continually.” So then, what does this verb “have respect” mean? It means “to view with a high regard, to view as being worthy of high honor and priority affection, to hold a spirit of high regard, honor, esteem, and even love and joy toward someone or something.” This is just the heart attitude that the psalmist, this young man of God, determined to have toward the Word and ways of the Lord. Even so, this is just the heart attitude that we also ought to have toward the Word and ways of our Lord.

James 2:8 reads, “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well.”

In James 2:8 we find the commendation of the Lord our God Himself in His Holy Word unto all who fulfill His royal law. Herein the law of the Lord our God is described as His royal law because He is the divine Lord and King of our lives. Indeed, this reveals that we believers in this time of the New Testament do have the responsibility to serve under our Lord’s authority and to submit ourselves in obedience under the authority of law for our lives. Furthermore, we have the responsibility to fulfill our Lord’s royal law, that is – to obey it completely and consistently. Finally, we are brought to understand that we must fulfill our Lord’s royal law over our lives in accord with the Old Testament Scripture from Leviticus 19:18, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” If we do this, then the Lord our God through His Holy Word by the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit commends us with the declaration, “Ye do well.” If we do this, then in our Lord’s sight we are walking in the way of righteousness.

So then, what does it mean to love our neighbor as ourselves? In Leviticus 19:17-18 this instruction was first given, wherein God’s word declares, “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.” Then throughout the New Testament, this instruction of our God’s law was quoted by our Lord Jesus Christ on two occasion in Matthew 19:19 & 22:39(with Mark 12:31 being a parallel passage to Matthew 22:39), by the apostle Paul on two further occasions inRomans 13:9 & Galatians 5:14, and by James in James 2:8. Even so, through a study of these and of some supporting passages, we may develop a greater understanding concerning what it means to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Already in the first part of the study, we considered ten truths concerning this matter, as follows:

1. To love our neighbor as ourselves is the foundational principle of God’s law in relation to others.
2. To love our neighbor as ourselves is a debt that we constantly owe unto those around us.
3. To love our neighbor as ourselves means that we work no ill against those around us.
4. To love our neighbor as ourselves means that we not use our Christian liberty for an occasion to our selfish flesh.
5. To love our neighbor as ourselves means that we pursue a behavior of service unto those around us.
6. To love our neighbor as ourselves means that we not verbally “bite and devour” those around us.
7. To love our neighbor as ourselves requires that we walk under the directing influence of God the Holy Spirit.
8. To love our neighbor as ourselves means that we be moved with compassion to help those around us who are in need.
9. To love our neighbor as ourselves means that we not defraud or deal deceitfully with those around us.
10. To love our neighbor as ourselves means that we not be impatient or abusive against those with a physical disability.

Now, in this fourth part of the study, let us consider seven final truths.

James 2:8 reads, “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well.”

In James 2:8 we find the commendation of the Lord our God Himself in His Holy Word unto all who fulfill His royal law. Herein the law of the Lord our God is described as His royal law because He is the divine Lord and King of our lives. Indeed, this reveals that we believers in this time of the New Testament do have the responsibility to serve under our Lord’s authority and to submit ourselves in obedience under the authority of law for our lives. Furthermore, we have the responsibility to fulfill our Lord’s royal law, that is – to obey it completely and consistently. Finally, we are brought to understand that we must fulfill our Lord’s royal law over our lives in accord with the Old Testament Scripture from Leviticus 19:18, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” If we do this, then the Lord our God through His Holy Word by the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit commends us with the declaration, “Ye do well.” If we do this, then in our Lord’s sight we are walking in the way of righteousness.

So then, what does it mean to love our neighbor as ourselves? In Leviticus 19:17-18 this instruction was first given, wherein God’s word declares, “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.” Then throughout the New Testament, this instruction of our God’s law was quoted by our Lord Jesus Christ on two occasion in Matthew 19:19 & 22:39 (with Mark 12:31 being a parallel passage to Matthew 22:39), by the apostle Paul on two further occasions in Romans 13:9 & Galatians 5:14, and by James in James 2:8. Even so, through a study of these and of some supporting passages, we may develop a greater understanding concerning what it means to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Already in the first part of the study, we considered two truths concerning this matter, as follows:

1. To love our neighbor as ourselves is the foundational principle of God’s law in relation to others.
2. To love our neighbor as ourselves is a debt that we constantly owe unto those around us.
3. To love our neighbor as ourselves means that we work no ill against those around us.
4. To love our neighbor as ourselves means that we not use our Christian liberty for an occasion to our selfish flesh.
5. To love our neighbor as ourselves means that we pursue a behavior of service unto those around us.
6. To love our neighbor as ourselves means that we not verbally “bite and devour” those around us.

Now, in this third part of the study, let us consider four additional truths.